johkson



(No Model.)

E. 0. JOHNSON.

FOLDING SCREEN FOR BEDS. I No. 244,613. Y Patented July 1.9, 1881.

Winesses Jttorn e N. PETERs Phckolithagnpben Wmhlngmn. 5.6.

UNITED STATES ERNESTO. JOHNSON, OF MILOHIGALT crtrY, 1NDIAuA, ASSIGNOR I A. THORNTON, OF SAME rLAcE.

PATENT OFFICE.

TO JAMES FOL DING SCREEN FOR-BEDS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 244,613, dated July 19,1881:

Application filed September 4, 1880. (No model.) I

' which are fully described in thefollowin g specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 represents a plan view of a folding screen-support containing my improvements Fig. 2, a vertical section taken on the line as m, Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a side elevation of the same folded up, and Figs. 4. and 5 plan views, showing slight modifications in the construction of the support. v

Myinvention relates to a support for screens forbeds and. other articles of furniture, the object being to provide a'screen and support which can be readily folded up out of the way. The invention consists in'a double-jointed support projecting over the bedor other piece of furniture, and provided with cords by means of which it is folded up on boththese joints and unfolded at will.

It also consists in other combinations of specific devices, all of which will be hereinafter fully described, and the special improvements which it is desired to secure by Letters Patent pointed out definitely in the claims.

In the drawings, A represents a post of any suitable length and size, according to the size of the frame and weight of the screen which is to be used. On one side of this post a short arm, 0, projects. A skeleton-frame, B, composed of two central bars, b, separated slightly, and two cross-arms, b, passing through the ends of the former, to which they are fastened, is pivoted to the projecting arm a by arrang in g it between the ends of the middle bars and passing one of the cross-bars through it and said middle bars, as shown in Fig. l of the drawings. At the other end of the frame a second frame, 0, is hinged, consisting of a central bar, 0, the inner end of which is embraced by the middle bars, I), to which itis connected by the front cross-arm, b, on which it turns as a pivot. 'At the front end of this bar 0 is a crossbar, 0, like those on the first frame. The rear end of the bar 0 projects slightly behind its pivot, and is provided with a stop, D, which strikes against the under sideof the bars b when the frame 0 is lowered to a horizontal position. A stop, E, is attached to the arm a, projecting on each side of thelatter to the rear extensions of the arms b, which strike against these projections of the stop and stop the frame B when it 'is lowered to a horizontal position.

Two cords, are attached to the rear end'of thethe support connecting the outer ends of the cross-bars, the post of which support is fastened to the back of the head-board I when it is used fora bed-screen, and when. used to cover or protect any, other article of furniture it'must be fastened to some suitable support.

'Thesupport makes a kind of square frame,

over which the screen isthrown, and to which it is attached, whatever the material.

' Suppose the support lowered in a horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 2 of thedrawings, a pull on theend of the rope F Will first fold the front frame, 0, up and back upon the frame B, by reason of the attachment and arrangement of the cord. A continuation of the pull. will then fold the frame B up against the post, carrying with it the frame G, the arms assumin g the position shown in Fig. 3 of the drawin gs. Obviously the screen will thus be folded up and back out of the way. Now, when it is desired to lower the screen a pull on the cord G will first fold the frame B down' into a hori- Ice and present even an ornamental appearance,

something like a lambrequin. This frame is especially adapted for use with mosquito-bars,

but, of course, may be used with screens of 5 other material, if desired, and may be applied elsewhere than over beds.

Some modifications may be made in the constructions of the frames. Instead of the double bars b a single bar, 0, may be employed, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, and side bars, I) and may be employed, as shown in the same figure, in which case, of course, the side cords will be dispensed with. This construction will make a somewhat stiffer frame, and 1 with it the central bars may be dispensed with,

as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, in which figure the frame B is also shown hinged or pivoted to two supporting-posts, one at each corner, instead of one central one. A single central bar may, however, be employed with the style of frames shown in Fig. 5, as well as two, in fact is preferred. With two supportingposts at the corners it is necessary to have two sets of cords, in order to work the support readily.

The construction and arrangement of the stops may be modified to suit different styles of frames and convenience.

If it is desired to fold up the support still more compactly, it may be made in three sections, instead of two, the third being a duplicate of the second.

Washers J may be applied to the pivot-pins on each side of the jointed bars, ifdesired, and the bars may be held in position where single ones are used by pins passing through the pivot bars, or any other suitable devices.

The construction of the hinge-joint may also be varied. For instance, a regular butt-hinge may be used for connecting the several parts together, the connecting-arms in such cases being arranged in line with each other.

I do not limit myself to the precise construction and arrangement of parts herein shown 5 and described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. A double-jointed screen-support for beds and other articles of furniture, composed of a frame-work, B, hinged to a suitable support, and provided with a stop at the supported end, whereby it is prevented from falling below a horizontal position, and a frame work,G,hinged to the front end of the former frame, and provided with a stop at the hinged end, whereby it is prevented from falling below a horizontal position, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A frame, B, hinged to a suitable support, and provided with a stop at the supported end, whereby it is prevented from falling below a horizontal position, in combination with a frame, 0, hinged to the front end of the former frame, and provided with a stop at the hinged end, whereby it is prevented from fallingbelow a horizontal position, and a cord, F, attached to the hinged end of the frame 0, whereby the hinged support may be successively doubled upon itselfin a horizontal position and folded up, substantially as described.

3. The hinged frame B, in combination with the frame 0 jointed thereto, and the cord Gr, arranged as described, whereby the folded frame may be turned down and unfolded, substantially as described.

4. The supporting post or posts A, in combination with the double-hinged screen-support B O and the cords F and G, arranged as described, whereby the support may be folded and unfolded on its two hinges, substantially as described.

5. The supporting-post A, in combination with the doublehinged screen-support B 0, provided with transverse arms 1), stops Dand E, and raising and lowering cords F and G, all constructed, arranged, and operating substantially as described.

ERNEST O. JOHNSON.

Witnesses:

JARED H. ORR, WALTER VAIL. 

